Using Trickle Chargers

[soviet_merlin]

I have the Century CC1206 12V 1/3/6Amp 9 Stage Battery Charger. It is different from the one you linked but I don't know in what way.

Their manual says that it both can be left on 24/7 and that it shouldn't be left on 24/7. Go figure ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Quote

Can be left on 24/7 to ensure your battery is always maintained and fully charged: The battery charger can be left permanently connected all year round. The intelligent charger will monitor the battery voltage and will maintain it at peak performance with a special pulse charge during long term maintenance. Please note that even if the battery charger incorporates this feature, Century Batteries does not recommend leaving the battery charger connected 24/7.

I haven't been game to leave it on there for more than 2 days.

[Duncan]

I often leave mine connected weeks at a time. The main one I use is the old model of this, it has 2 important features

- choose battery chemistry other than lead acid (most of mine are AGM)

- power supply mode which you can use to try and recover dead flat batteries as "smart" chargers often don't recognise a dead flat battery is connected

https://www.projecta.com.au/products/IC10/intellicharge-10a-bat-chgr

The Ctek I  use was meant to have a battery test mode as well but it doesn't work 100% of the time so I am pissed at them. The distributor did everything possible to make warranty and support difficult so I'll stay away in future.

The main thing with a "trickle" charger is it has multi stage programs, ie once the battery is full it turns the current right down to just maintain the charge....in the old days we just used real "trickle" chargers for that which had a maximum output of say 500mA which was safe to just leave connected to dumb old lead batteries.

[Murray_Calavera]

49 minutes ago, GTSBoy said:

C-tek here. MXS 5

Same. 

It's depressing to say this but the skyline can go months on the charger between drives. 

[MBS206]

At work we've got a smaller version of the Projecta that Duncan posted above.

At home, I have an ALDI trickle charger. Ive had it for about 8 years now. Only issue with it, it's a smart charger, so if the battery is dead, it won't bring it up, but I have a variable power supply that I limit current on, and set to a max of 14.4v. once it starts charging up, I put the aldi unit on and remove the variable PSU.

ALDI one will do 12v, or 6v, then has mode for "car" "motorbike", and "snow". With car or motorbike more for its internal workings, and snow is the trickle mode.

I have a battery in the garage that lives on this charger for about the last 18 months now on Snow mode. When I need to charge my other batteries (eg, ones that have died in a car), I get them started and then run it on car mode. Voltage is always sitting really nice, and hasn't killed a battery yet. that charger isn't good for things like Lithium batteries etc, I'd only use it on Lead Acid.

[silviaz]

2 hours ago, soviet_merlin said:

I have the Century CC1206 12V 1/3/6Amp 9 Stage Battery Charger. It is different from the one you linked but I don't know in what way.

Their manual says that it both can be left on 24/7 and that it shouldn't be left on 24/7. Go figure ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I haven't been game to leave it on there for more than 2 days.

I think I know what you mean. I saw the same thing a while back, I think either the images on the website were wrong or the model was slightly updated. It was weird when I first looked at it, same model but different looking unit.

[silviaz]

2 hours ago, Duncan said:

I often leave mine connected weeks at a time. The main one I use is the old model of this, it has 2 important features

- choose battery chemistry other than lead acid (most of mine are AGM)

- power supply mode which you can use to try and recover dead flat batteries as "smart" chargers often don't recognise a dead flat battery is connected

https://www.projecta.com.au/products/IC10/intellicharge-10a-bat-chgr

The Ctek I  use was meant to have a battery test mode as well but it doesn't work 100% of the time so I am pissed at them. The distributor did everything possible to make warranty and support difficult so I'll stay away in future.

The main thing with a "trickle" charger is it has multi stage programs, ie once the battery is full it turns the current right down to just maintain the charge....in the old days we just used real "trickle" chargers for that which had a maximum output of say 500mA which was safe to just leave connected to dumb old lead batteries.

One of my concerns initially was if something catches fire somehow.

[silviaz]

2 hours ago, Murray_Calavera said:

Same. 

It's depressing to say this but the skyline can go months on the charger between drives. 

Why's that depressing, wouldn't it be able to go indefinitely until the battery gets old and craps itself? If it's constantly on charge/maintaining charge, won't that keep the battery healthy?

[MBS206]

2 hours ago, silviaz said:

Why's that depressing, wouldn't it be able to go indefinitely until the battery gets old and craps itself? If it's constantly on charge/maintaining charge, won't that keep the battery healthy?

More sad that it's month inbetween drives of his Skyline.

[silviaz]

4 minutes ago, MBS206 said:

More sad that it's month inbetween drives of his Skyline.

Ah I see.

[silviaz]

Stupid question but I assume everyone closes their hood right when leaving their trickle charger on so their security system works properly?

[silviaz]

On 3/13/2025 at 4:30 PM, soviet_merlin said:

I have the Century CC1206 12V 1/3/6Amp 9 Stage Battery Charger. It is different from the one you linked but I don't know in what way.

Their manual says that it both can be left on 24/7 and that it shouldn't be left on 24/7. Go figure ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I haven't been game to leave it on there for more than 2 days.

I'll be getting this one most likely, I'll provide an update if my battery blows up lol. Also where did you get your info? This is the manual, it says it can be left on: https://www.centurybatteries.com.au/media/hclfd0ek/cc1206-xli_century_owners_manual_1223_v10_final.pdf

I checked your quote and it's only for lithium batteries.

Edited March 26 by silviaz

[Murray_Calavera]

24 minutes ago, silviaz said:

Stupid question but I assume everyone closes their hood right when leaving their trickle charger on so their security system works properly?

Car lives in a garage, so not an issue. 

If it is an issue for you, I suppose you could hook this up to the battery and run the connector down to somewhere you can easily reach when the car is parked and locked up. Then I guess all you need to worry about is having your charger stolen lol. 

[GTSBoy]

I put the charger in the engine bay and run the power cord down through one of the holes in the undertray, or at the back end of the engine bay, any time I need a car to be on a charger outside. In fact, I bring the extension cord up through into the engine bay so that it's not dragging around where it could get wet, or easily unplugged.

[The Bogan]

I made an extension of the item circled above in red that is hard wired to the battery and tucks away nicely in the engine bay, could easily do the same if it in the boot, just run the extended cable out under the bonnet or boot lid, I then just stick the charger on a milk crate to get it off the ground

[soviet_merlin]

2 hours ago, silviaz said:

I'll be getting this one most likely, I'll provide an update if my battery blows up lol. Also where did you get your info? This is the manual, it says it can be left on: https://www.centurybatteries.com.au/media/hclfd0ek/cc1206-xli_century_owners_manual_1223_v10_final.pdf

I checked your quote and it's only for lithium batteries.

Looks like they changed the wording in the manual for the new model. I have a different model. Mine is CC1206. Not CC1206-XLI. Mine doesn't support lithium at all. I can't find the manual for my model online and they don't list the model on the Century website anymore either. In my manual it says what I quoted and that they recommend to not leave it on 🤷‍♂️

Sounds like you'd be fine with this one now.

[MBS206]

I have two German Shepherds that like to bite things that are in places they shouldn't be.

Plus the cars/batteries on chargers are inside a locked garage, inside that fully fenced and locked yard.

If you can get the car out, you can have it, as I'll be having one hell of a laugh at your expense.

[silviaz]

3 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

I put the charger in the engine bay and run the power cord down through one of the holes in the undertray, or at the back end of the engine bay, any time I need a car to be on a charger outside. In fact, I bring the extension cord up through into the engine bay so that it's not dragging around where it could get wet, or easily unplugged.

Good idea!

[silviaz]

1 hour ago, MBS206 said:

I have two German Shepherds that like to bite things that are in places they shouldn't be.

Plus the cars/batteries on chargers are inside a locked garage, inside that fully fenced and locked yard.

If you can get the car out, you can have it, as I'll be having one hell of a laugh at your expense.

Death trap right there 😂

[silviaz]

On 3/26/2025 at 3:20 PM, GTSBoy said:

I put the charger in the engine bay and run the power cord down through one of the holes in the undertray, or at the back end of the engine bay, any time I need a car to be on a charger outside. In fact, I bring the extension cord up through into the engine bay so that it's not dragging around where it could get wet, or easily unplugged.

I just checked my voltage on the charger, and it's showing 15.1v on my volt meter and it's not even fully charged yet, is this an issue and overcharging? i selected the right battery type and charge settings

[Duncan]

Bulk charging can be a high voltage but I would have though 14.x not 15.x

What battery type?